The Portland daily press., 1887-02-11
XLIXth CONGRESS-. SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
The presiding officer presented the resolu-
tiOns of the joint convention of the House Of
the general assembly of Indiana Republican
members protesting against the validity Of
the election Of David Turpie as United
States Senator. Referred to the committee
on privileges and elections. Also message
from the House of Representatives with a
substitute for the Chinese indemnity bill.
Mr.. Edmunds said that the two bills ap-
peared to amount TO the same purpose, ex-
cept that perhaps the House substituted
a more simple way. He moved that the
Mr.. Hale, from the committee One u11al
affairs reni-.sI .isssaas S..ss destroyer" and
it was referred to the committee on appro-
priations.
Mr.. Plumb gave notice that he would to-
morrow ask the Senate to take up and dis
pose of the post Office appropriation bill.
Mr. Blair offered resolution for the con-
tinuation during the recess Of the investiga-
tiOn into the relations between labor and
capital. Laid over under objection.
The Senate then on motion of Mr.. Palmer
resumed consideration of the House bill re-
lating to the importing and landing OF mack
erel caught during the spawning season.
Mr.. Miller renewed his attack upon the
bill, ridiculing the idea that fishermen who
favored it did so as philanthrophists. The
Bessemer steel manufacturers, or cotton
manufacturers, or coal producers, when
they wanted to raise prices, suspended 0per-
ations, but they never asked Congress to do
that for them. III this fishing industry was
| confined to the States of Massachusetts and
| Maine why did not those interested agree to
| stop purse seine fishing for three months in
| year? The effect Of the bill would be to
| reduce the catch of mackerel next year so
| per cent, but that reduced quantity would
sell for as much money as the full quantity
now sold fer. In other words, the American
| people would be compelled to pay TO the
capitalists who control the business in those
| two States as much money for half Of their
| fish food as they now have to pay fer all OF
/ IT, Besides, even If American fishermen
| were shut out during three months Of the
| year, Canadian fishermen could not be shut
| out.
| Mr.. Palmer, chairman of the committe on
fisheries, said that as the ancient gods and
| gOddeSses, when they wanted to do some
| thing that would not bear watching sur.
| rounded themselves with fog, so the Senator
from New York got up fog on the subject
| and when the fog was dispelled by friends oi
| the bill that Senator went to work and gOi
| up another fog. There was no pretence oi
| philanthropy about the bill. The fishermen
| complained that their business was languish
ing andlin danger Of being destroyed unless I
close season for mackerel was established.
| Mr.. Miller asked whether Palmer denied
the statement of scientific men that the quan
tity of fish in the ocean was not appreciabll
diminished by the operations of man.
Mr.. Palmer replied that the Senator from
| New York was ''still harping on my daugh
| ter" What Prof Huxley said in regard Il
the herring fisheries of Scotland seemed Il
be the bulwark Of opposition here Bu
Prof, Baird had said that it might be well Il
try the experiment, and that it was possible
that purse seine fishing might in time lesser